A satirical romp that hits some marks but misses others.
A young woman becomes a viral celebrity after falling into a well in this darkly comic novel.
In an interesting choice for a young adult novel, Amanda’s brainy, globe-trotting, increasingly heavy-drinking grandfather narrates. His assessment of Amanda as dull and unremarkable seems to say more about him than it does about her. Equally incomprehensible to him is the world of online influencers—the very world into which Amanda is abruptly dropped when, after her accident, she amasses a huge following on PingPong, a Chinese-owned social media platform. Told in three parts through short, dialogue-driven prose, Amanda’s unassuming ordinariness in the face of this intense commodification of her misfortune is showcased. The teen’s struggles with her parents, who are terrified by the prospect of screen addiction and its associated ills but vicariously thrilled by their daughter’s newfound fame, are played for comedic effect, insightfully underscoring the disconnect between different generations’ relationships to technology. However, the presentation of social movements and theories—such as #MeToo, identity politics, and microaggressions—through this same absurdist, tongue-in-cheek tone comes off as glib and trivializing. Amanda and her family are White; there is some ethnic diversity in the supporting cast.
A satirical romp that hits some marks but misses others. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73705-202-9
Page Count: 333
Publisher: Pleasure Boat Studio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A worthy follow-up to a stellar debut.
A Black teenage witch deals with the fallout of past choices while trying to prevent future destruction.
Voya is facing the aftermath of the tough choices she made in Blood Like Magic (2021) in order to pass her Calling and acquire magical powers. Having received two gifts, Voya is now the youngest Matriarch ever to be crowned in her family. She finds that she has much to do to earn the respect of those around her—and possibly even those who came before her, since her ancestors have not answered any of her calls for guidance. The recent death of her grandmother—her family’s previous Matriarch—has caused new intrafamilial strain and enhanced existing stressors. Not only that, but Justin Tremblay, renowned tech magnate and sponsor father of Luc, Voya’s first love, is presumed dead, and Luc thinks Voya is responsible. As if her plate weren’t full enough, Voya experiences a vision that shows her the potential annihilation of her family and the wider Black witch community in Toronto. Now, to try and prevent the devastating future she foresaw, she has to work to overcome her insecurities as a Matriarch and convince the elders who also lack faith in her to unite. Thanks to Sambury’s fluid writing style and well-established storyline and characters, readers will easily be able to follow Voya and other supporting characters as their lives and challenges become more complicated.
A worthy follow-up to a stellar debut. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6531-2
Page Count: 480
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
A thought-provoking exploration of storytelling dynamics in a social media–driven society.
A Black basketball star starts his senior year by pivoting to find his true voice in the classroom.
Ossie Brown was destined for greatness before an injury in a game ended his high school basketball career. Ossie feels like his future was stolen—and on top of that, his girlfriend dumps him. Grandma Alice comforts him with a reminder that basketball doesn’t define him; still, the game helped Ossie cope with his fractured relationship with his widowed mother. A new opportunity opens up when Ms. Hunt, Ossie’s Black English teacher at mostly white Braxton Academy, where he has a full-ride scholarship, tells him about the Mark Twain Creative Writing Program. A vivid dream in which his father speaks to him inspires Ossie’s application essay. He connects with Luis and Naima, the only other participants who aren’t white, but agitation by conservative students against a “woke agenda” leads to Ms. Hunt’s replacement by a teacher who exclusively uses texts by white authors. Ossie’s online attempt to support Naima’s protest has unintended consequences, and he’s forced to reevaluate his solo activism. The central characters’ relationships will engage readers, and Ossie’s dilemma will resonate with anyone whose good intentions have gone sideways. Committed, pragmatic, and reflective Ossie ultimately learns from Grandma Alice’s wise counsel: “This thing of ours—life, you see—is only as beautiful as the bonds we make as we journey through it.”
A thought-provoking exploration of storytelling dynamics in a social media–driven society. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781536233469
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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